Dempo SC fought until the final whistle to secure a dramatic 2-2 draw against Namdhari FC in an intense I-League showdown at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Thursday. A late equaliser from debutant Marcus Joseph ensured the Golden Eagles avoided defeat after surrendering their first-half lead.
Dempo started brightly, controlling possession and pressing high up the pitch. Under the guidance of coach Samir Naik, their fluid passing disrupted Namdhari’s rhythm, creating early opportunities. However, Juan Mera couldn’t capitalize, and Joseph was unlucky when his effort struck the woodwork in the 40th minute. Their persistence finally paid off in first-half stoppage time when Pruthvesh Pednekar’s pinpoint cross found Seigoumang Doungel, who powered a header past the static Namdhari defence.
The second half saw a resurgent Namdhari FC make tactical adjustments, bringing fresh energy onto the field. The visitors gradually took control and leveled the score in the 65th minute through Akashdeep Singh, who curled a sensational strike into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Buoyed by the equalizer, Namdhari pressed harder, coming close through Jaskaranpreet Singh and David Mills, but Dempo goalkeeper Ashish Sibi stood firm. The pressure eventually broke Dempo’s resistance in the 83rd minute when Cledson Carvalho Dasilva beat the offside trap and clinically headed home his ninth goal of the campaign.
Just when it seemed Namdhari would snatch all three points, Dempo refused to back down. With time running out, Joseph produced a moment of brilliance in the 87th minute. The new signing latched onto a long ball, showed immense composure to round off Namdhari’s goalkeeper Jaspreet Singh, and slotted his shot past two desperate defenders to send the home crowd into raptures.
The result left Namdhari in second place with 25 points, trailing Churchill Brothers by two. Meanwhile, Dempo sits in eighth with 18 points from 14 matches, ruing their missed chances but drawing encouragement from Joseph’s impactful debut.
